Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway (Xbox 360)

Author's product rating:   

Gameplay/Playability	A good game - good gameplay & playability
Graphics	OK graphics
Sound	Average sound effects & music
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	great cover system, controlling A . I .  squads is a real treat
Disadvantages:	terrible multiplayer, poor graphics at times for Xbox 360

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

Personally, games that involve using your brain interest me much more than using holding a button down and splattering everything that comes towards you. Games such as Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon are games that I love to play because of the tactical factor that they involved. I especially loved Brothers in Arms Road to Hill 30, therefore when I finally got my hands on Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway; I was drooling at the mouth ready to play.

Like its predecessors, Hells Highway shows the horrific times of American soldiers during the Second World War however, a problem I had when first playing the game was that unlike where the other games made me care about my teammates, Hells Highway doesn't. This is mainly because if, in mid-battled, one of them gets shot dead or blown up or whatever, I would see them at the next checkpoint. You never get the chance to attach to any of them which is a really shame because this is what made the previous games to great to play.

However, what was an improvement was the combat system - the way you can lead squads and influence the A.I unit's positions to triumph over little battles makes you really feel a sense of accomplishment. You could just send your troops in haphazardly, and doing all of it yourself (which I'm sure some people will do) using your mind and thinking about the consequences of your actions actual provides some unique game play that really stands out. This feature in Hells Highway does make it a great tactical shooter.

Times when you're alone, amidst the enemies, without the help of your squad will show up in the game, but this is no problem in Hells Highway. Unlike the trouble I had in Road to Hill 30 trying to kill enemies by myself, in Hell's Highway, the new cover mechanic has fixed this problem most defiantly. It improves accuracy whilst also offering great opportunity to protect you. It also does an excellent job as changes the view point form first to third when you do take cover.

Multiplayer in Hells Highway is really not worth talking about - it's painfully boring, with its only mode being a pitiful capture the flag type thing. The main problem with it is that it removes the thing that makes the game good - the ability to command A.I, squads. It's worth forgetting…

You'd think with it being on Xbox 360 that the graphics are going to outstanding, really making you feel you're there in that moment - and sometimes it does…but sometimes, embarrassingly is doesn't. You see, when playing the game - one moment you can look around and gasp the detail of the explosions, bullets and smoke around you and then…it can all go wrong. I remember admiring the scenery one moment and then turning around and look at the terrible executed building behind me. Sometimes the frame rate can drop awkwardly, or sometimes lots of textures pop in at one time and it makes you think how this got into the final game. How could Ubisoft have missed these problems!?

Overall, the single player mode of Hell's Highway can be extremely exciting, with you controlling where and when your squad mates move to and using the new clever cover system to keep yourself alive, but apart from that - the dodgy graphics and shocking multiplayer make this a game to miss…wait for Call of Duty: World At War.